The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-22

OF nVe negroes In York County, for the
murder of young Goode last November.
1t is painful, not to say an inexcusable
exercise Of illegal authority aud is utterly
incompatible with the civilization of the
age. Tho crime committed by tho parties
was most atrocious, for not only had sufi-
cient time elapsed to allow the cooling of
natural passions, but court was in session,
through tho medium of " hich the law
would certainly have bcon vindicated.
Under the circumstances there is no excuse,
or even palliation, for the act, and it de-
serves universal condemnation. The par
ties may have met the fato which the law
would have metsd out to them, but this in
no way, affects the case. Under the law,
which holds its shield over all they were
entitled to be openly tried, and, if found
guilty, sentenced aud executed under the
law. Not only does the act show want
of confidence in the juries of the country
and bring the law into disreputs, but it
pavcs the way to the gravest wrongs. True,
in this case the guilt of the parties was
certain by the confession of one, which
however, was not evidence against the 9TH
ers, but often circumstances point to guilt
with apparently unerring certainty, which
time and proof establish as simulative.
Guilty or innocent the law provides for
trial and it was there ready to be had.
Lynch law was, if not wholly, almost
unknown in South Carolina before tie
war. It was tho creature of new settled
countries and was resort as a necessity
in the suppression of crimo, where no laws
wero in force or where too slow and feeble
Of exclusion among sparse and lawless
population. 1t always gave place to law
and organized government; but it now
seems to be gathering strength in old set
tied States. This is to be regretted aud
should be condemned by all good citizens.
Even in new countries lynch law was
not enforced except upon an informal
trial and conviction, and it belongs to this
enlightened day to wrest from the lawful
authorities and execute without hearing
uRaEtiss under charge. Of crime, In periods
slteeess Ishss <hsnsa ksisssss fns
has been committed, great allowance may
be made for the passions Of men but this
at most was brutal murder, meriting death
which the Law. weuld surely have admins
tered. Our judgment and feelings say the
oulprits got exactly what they meritsd, but
that it was administered in a way and by
an authority we condemn, both as uuwar.
ranted and dangerous.
The growth of lynch law has b.en due
to several causes. The war left an imprint
Of Generalization on the people. This was
aggravated by the enfranchisement of the
negro, utterly unfit for free social and DO
litical rights. Brutal by nature and dis
honest from ignorance and native iuclipa.
tion, his crimes became so frequent aud
grave that the white race could net await
the Glow process of the law to check his
destruction Of property and chastity, lest
utter ruin should come. To prevent this
at fret rarely tho law was overstepped and
judgment meted out without trial. This
spirit however has grown until what was
' winked at as means Of protection has be-
come IN evil to be feared.
Look at the progress of this spirit Of
lawlessness. At 6rst it was confined to
cases Of rape and had it remained there no
one could have complained, for We say that
whosoever, be he white or black, robs Forci-
bly, a female Of her honor takes more than
life, and when discovered should be hung
to the first limb. We consider this a far
greater crime than murder aud Ct at Of the
wilful seducer is little less both alike de-
serve death without trial or shrift. The
difficulty lies not in the principle, but in
its application by frail humanity. To a mob
give an inch and it will take an ell.
After the war rape by negroes became 90
common that our wives and daughters
seemed never secure from the vile assaults
two-legged black bru:es, and hence lynch
law. The spirit proceeded until few
negroes were Iynched for endiarism and
murder, but tho case in York caps all prior
cases Of disregard of the law, as the crime
had not only been committed months be-
fore, but the parties were taken from the
very face Of the court. Here lies the dan.
ger. Where will this spirit terminate ?
Will the criminal Law become nulli,y and
the people Of each county or section assume